Clock case



Nov. 11, 1969 R. SIEFERT CLOCK CASE Filed June 20, 1967 United States Patent Int. Cl. G04b 37/04 US. Cl. 58-53 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is a timepiece case such as for a travelers alarm clock having two mating somewhat shell-like halves, hinged together by a hinge formed as an integral part of a works carrier of flexible elastic plastic secured on the upper or front case half.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Field of the invention The invention pertains to horological instruments having a hinged case.

Description of the prior art Hinged cases for travelers clocks such as alarm clocks have been proposed wherein two pan like or cover halves which enclose the clockwork between them are formed from plastic. The hinge joining the two covers was made of the same plastic as the covers themselves. For erection, the hinged clockwork was folded out on one of the covers so that the two covers and the clockwork formed an equilateral triangle. The drawback of this alarm clock case was that when it was found desirable to make the covers rigid and substantial shells then a hard plastic was used, yet for a hinging a yieldable plastic is necessary. Since the hinging has to be of the same material as the shells that construction is very difficult to use.

There is also a requirement that the noise of the time works be only slightly audible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The clockwork case of the present invention includes upper and lower shells, the upper having secured thereto a work carrier of flexible plastic serving as a false top and provided with an outstanding weakened flange secured to the lower shell on one of its inner side walls. The softness of the carrier acts to isolate vibration and muflle the sound of the running time work.

DRAWING The figure of the drawing is a cross section of the timepiece case, in open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The timepiece case comprises upper and lower mating shells 1 and 3 which together form the case. The upper shell 1 is provided with a large aperture covered by a dial lens or glass 12. A works carrier of resilient thick plastic sheeting 2 is mounted within the upper shell somewhat as a false top, as by screws 10. The carrier is provided with small mounting posts or lugs 11 projecting toward the interior of the case for the mounting of the works (not shown) and has a central hole 8 through which the usual pointer arbor and tube may pass, the zone about the hole being recessed at 7 to provide space for minute-hour ratio wheels. Indicia may be applied directly on the outer face of the carrier.

3,477,224 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 The work carrier sheet 2 is provided with a somewhat right angular flange 4 having a weakened zone 5 of reduced thickness running along the juncture of the two shells to serve as a hinge therebetween.

The flange is fastened to the lower shell 3 by a clamping member 6, fastness of the flange in the clamping memher being assured by having the outer edge portion 9 of the flange of relatively increased thickness. The portion 5 between the thickened portion 9 and body of the sheet 2 being of reduced thickness and inner of the corner edge allows opening of the shells, both by stretch of the plastic and due to the fact that the hinged rims of the shells are beveled as at 13.

The composition of the shells is not chemically critical, but the shells are sufficiently hard to insure protection to the works. Phenolformaldehyde resin may be used for the shells and so can metal. Neither is the composition of the sheet 2 and flanges 5 and 9 critical so long as the part 5 is softer, more resilient and flexible than the shells and strong. Vinyl plastic generally like artificial leather or rubber are satisfactory.

In use, the case may be propped open in the position shown so as not to muffle a waking alarm of the works.

The outer walls 1a and 3a of the shells at the hinge may be flat and, then the case closed, monoplanar so that the timepiece may then stand erectly on them. Means such as tightly fitting mating tongue and rabbet grooves 1b and 3b on the rim of the three separable walls of the shells, may be used to hold the case closed when desired.

I claim:

1. A two-shell case, said shells being of hard material, wherein the clockwork is mounted on one of the shells and a dial lens on the outer side of said one shell, the improvement characterized by a works carrier connected with said one shell and made of elastic plastic, which works carrier is provided with a flange, the flange being mounted on the inner side wall of the other shell, and wherein the flange is weakened along the abutment zone of the two shells and serves as a hinge between the shells.

2. A clock as claimed in claim 1, the flange being mounted on said inner wall by a clamp receiving the flange.

3. A clock as claimed in claim 1, the flange being weakened along said zone by the provision of a groove in the flange.

4. A clock as claimed in claim 3, the first mentioned shell being provided with a dial lens, and the work carrier being in the form of a false top for the case, screws for securing the carrier to the first mentioned shell, said carrier having inwardly projecting posts for attachment to an alarm clock work.

5. A clock as claimed in claim 4 the carrier being provided with a substantially central hole to pass a pointer arbor and tube therethrough and an inner recess thereat to receive minute-to-hour gearing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,850,247 3/1932 Lochard 58-53 2,687,157 8/1954 Cowan 220-31 2,745,133 5/1956 McWethy 220-30 3,022,627 2/1962 Junghans et al. 58-55 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner LAWRENCE R. FRANKLIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 220-32 

